Egyptian police killed ahead of presidential election

Los Angeles Times

Published 6:01 pm, Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Photo: Ahmed Gamil, Associated Press

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Riot police fire tear gas towards supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood during a demonstration at Cairo University hours after a drive-by shooting killed several Egyptian policemen and wounded others during an overnight rally by Islamist students at another university, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, May 20, 2014. A statement from an Al-Azhar student movement said the shooting took place after their rally had ended. The attack at Al-Azhar University raises security concerns ahead of presidential elections next week. (AP Photo/Ahmed Gamil) less

Riot police fire tear gas towards supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood during a demonstration at Cairo University hours after a drive-by shooting killed several Egyptian policemen and wounded others during an ... more

Photo: Ahmed Gamil, Associated Press

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Riot police stand near a police vehicle after gunmen in a drive-by shooting killed several Egyptian policemen and wounded others during an overnight rally by Islamist students at Al-Azhar University, in Cairo, Egypt, early Monday May, 20, 2014. A statement from an Al-Azhar student movement said the shooting took place after their rally had ended. The attack raises security concerns ahead of presidential elections next week, a vote the country's retired army chief. (AP Photo/Hussein Tallal) less

Riot police stand near a police vehicle after gunmen in a drive-by shooting killed several Egyptian policemen and wounded others during an overnight rally by Islamist students at Al-Azhar University, in Cairo, ... more

Photo: Hussein Tallal, Associated Press

Egyptian police killed ahead of presidential election

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Cairo --

Assailants shot to death three paramilitary police officers and wounded nine others Tuesday in a flare of violence less than a week before Egypt's presidential vote, the Interior Ministry said.

The drive-by shooting took place as security forces were breaking up a demonstration near Cairo's Azhar University. The campus has been the scene of frequent protests by supporters of deposed Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

Nearly 11 months after Morsi was removed from office by the Egyptian military, his backers still stage near-daily demonstrations, which are often dealt with harshly by security forces. Thousands of his supporters are in jail, as is the ex-leader himself.

Attacks on the police and army have skyrocketed since the July coup that propelled Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to power. El-Sissi, the former defense chief, is widely expected to win the presidential vote next Monday and Tuesday.

In a likely precursor to nationwide balloting, the state news agency reported Tuesday that el-Sissi was the overwhelming victor in voting by expatriate Egyptians that took place during the previous five days at Egypt's embassies and consulates overseas. Only one other candidate is contesting the presidency, liberal politician Hamdeen Sabahi.

Sabahi is conducting an active campaign, appearing at rallies across the country. El-Sissi, by contrast, meets with small handpicked groups and does televised interviews that are generally characterized by less-than-probing questions.

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The former field marshal's aides have cited security concerns in the decision not to wage a traditional campaign. El-Sissi has said he survived two assassination attempts.

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